Monsoon reaches entire country with 35-day delay, rainfall deficit drops to 15%; kharif sowing likely to pick up

The southwest monsoon covered the entire country on July 9, 2026, arriving 35 days later than normal. The rainfall deficit has dropped to 15%, which is likely to accelerate kharif sowing. The central government is working on a multi-dimensional strategy to deal with the effects of El Niño and below-normal rainfall. This development is significant for the agriculture and resources sectors, as monsoon progress directly impacts crop production and mining activities.